Indiana University Athletics
Awards Handed Out at 2002 Baseball Banquet
10/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 25, 2002
Awards Handed Out at 2002 Baseball Banquet
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Offensive Player in 2002. |
Bloomington, Ind. - -Several awards were handed out last Friday night, Oct. 18, at the 2002 Indiana Baseball Banquet held at the Bloomington Convention Center. More than 175 people were in attendance for the event, which was held in conjunction with Homecoming and IU Baseball Alumni Weekend, to celebrate the 2002 baseball season that saw Indiana finish in fourth-place in the Big Ten and return to the conference tournament for the first time since winning the title in 1996.
Centerfielder Kennard Jones was honored as the team’s Most Valuable Player. Jones earned the Big Ten’s Player of the Year Award and was drafted by the San Diego Padres following the 2002 season. Senior Eric Blakeley, who was also drafted after exhausting his eligibility, shared the Best Defensive Player award with Jones.
Junior third baseman Vasili Spanos garnered Best Offensive Player honors after leading the team with 16 home runs and registering a second-best .385 batting average. He was also given the Quality At Bat award. Spanos was a third-team All-American according to the American Baseball Coaches' Assocation and returns for his senior season in 2003.
Freshman second baseman Jay Brant was named the team’s Newcomer of the Year and junior pitcher Nick Vitielliss earned Most Improved honors. Brant hit .272 and made 49 starts for the Hoosiers in his rookie campaign. Vitielliss finished with an 8-1 record and a 3.58 ERA.
Last weekend’s banquet and Crimson vs. Cream intrasquad series capped five weeks of fall practice for the Hoosiers.
A complete list of banquet awards is below.
Balfour Award (for outstanding athletic and academic achievement)
Zach Otte
All-American
Vasili Spanos
All-Big Ten Selections
Kennard Jones
Zach Otte
Vasili Spanos
Nick Vitielliss
Drafted
Kennard Jones
Eric Blakeley
Lowest ERA
Zach Otte, 2.56
Most Hits
Kennard Jones, 92
Bill Gross Award
Kennard Jones, .411 batting average
Quality at Bat Award
Vasili Spanos, 64%
Most Wins
Nick Vitielliss, 8
Big Ten Player of the Year
Kennard Jones
Captains Awards
The 2002 Seniors
Eric Blakely
Bill Geiger
Gibran Hamdan
Mark Minor
Zach Otte
Matt Rice
Michael Woodside
Most Improved
Nick Vitielliss
Newcomer of the Year
Jay Brant
Best Defensive Player
Eric Blakeley
Kennard Jones
Best Offensive Player
Vasili Spanos
Most Valuable Player
Kennard Jones
